Pai, Thailand III

We are in Pai, Thailand — watching the sunset each evening from the White Buddha on the hill and going into town to the market every other day.

The Market — a metaphor for everyday life.

The Sunset — a metaphor for the unseen world — day passing into night.

The Street — the everyday world, but we see a Thai spirit house where someone does a ritual each day to appease the local spirits. There are fresh flowers in front of the spirit house.

What is your attitude toward this? Do you think that attempts to interact with spirits are valuable?

Close to the White Buddha, Pagoda on the Hill — along the stairs is a naga, a serpent being that protects against evil spirits.

Is it useful to seek protection from evil spirits? What is the nature of these spirits?

All of us harbor inner features that work against our well-being. What can we do about this?

This sign shows tourist attractions which we do not see — except for the “Temple on the Hill” which we visit every day.

Most tourist struggle to see as much as possible — even though the things on the list are not that remarkable.

A Buddha across town — there are charms for sale in this wat, amulets that can protect you from misfortune.

Going down the stairs from the White Buddha…walking meditation… Spiritual practice connects the seen and unseen worlds.

We see a spirit house — then walk down the street and see two guys drinking in a bar.

We do things that harm us. You can’t beat fun, no matter how hard you try.

We walk down a street, past a spirit house; we look at melons.

Most Westerners do not think about spirits. They do not believe in spirits — except those mentioned in Christian doctrines…and this becomes a closed compartment of the brain, outside of rationality.

But a minority of people believe in ghosts — particularly those who have seen one.

The spirits seem real to those who see them. Others can think of spirits as features within the mind — something that the mind creates.

Who can say what is real and what is not? The inner mind exists — the inner and outer touch. Meditation allows insight.

It is useful to recognize the features within your own mind — you can come into harmony with your inner self — the spirits within you.

We leave Pai by minibus– and pass a tourist attraction — a bridge left over from World War II.

This bridge does not seem like much of a tourist attraction but that is the type of thing that tourists look at — bridges, water falls, elephants, caves, canyon, a coffee house, etc.

The inner voyage is similar in that many of the events you experience are not particularly noteworthy. Meditation can be tedious and boring — like walking through featureless terrain — but this is training — it prepares and trains your mind.

The road into and out of Pai is mountainous and twisty…some times people throw up …but no one did on our journey.

Life has twists and turns. You can prepare yourself through training on the inner journey.